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The death of a senior Iranian ayatollah is set to ignite a fierce power
struggle in Tehran with the future leadership of the Islamic Republic at
stake. Grand Ayatollah Mahdavi Kani, 83, the head of the Assembly of
Experts, was declared dead after four months in a coma following a heart
attack in June. It leaves a vacancy at the heart of the regime just as
concerns are growing over the health of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali
Khamenei, 75.

The Assembly of Experts is the body that appoints the Supreme Leader and
nominally has the power to dismiss him.